Hola de España! (* and apart from another 5 words or so, this Kenyan’s Spanish is at it’s limit!)

Madrid is one of my top city escapes, simply because every street has something modern and traditional at the same time. Elegance just trickles down the facades of perfectly maintained architecture, culture seeps under your skin as music plays in your ear and lace spills out of shops, and best of all, the endless tapas and bottomless glasses of sangria!

Our trip had started off with an evening flight from Milan to Madrid (* and surprise!) we were delayed 2 hours (* 2 ridiculously long hours of me fuming about not already being in Madrid drinking my first cold glass of sangria).

Finally we got to our hotel, which was located right on Gran Via – The Praktik Metropol Hotel (* roughly 34€ per person per night). Not only was the location super convenient, the hotel was super clean and service at the reception was fast and efficient, not to mention we got a free map at the front desk with recommendations and discounts for selected restaurants and bars.

Here are the 10 hot spots (or rather touristic sites!) we managed to squeeze into our 2 days:

*** Tips at the bottom!

1. Gran Via – believe it or not, it is known as the street that never sleeps! It boasts some of the best architecture in the city, from large hotels to movie theatres, not forgetting that it is one of the most important shopping areas in the city.

2. The Prado Museum – founded as a museum in 1819, the Prado Museum takes its name from the old market gardens known as ‘prado’ or ‘meadow’. It houses one of the world’s finest collections of European art and dazzles visitors with works from great European masters such as Velázquez, Goya, Bosch and Rubens among other major artists dating from the 12^th century to the early 20^th century.

 

3. Parque del Buen Retiro – the Spanish Monarchy was in possession of the park until the late 19^th century when it was opened to the public. 350 acres of peaceful tree lined walkways offering shade, filled with gorgeous sculptures and monuments, completely surrounded by the present day city.

While you’re there, don’t miss out on:

• Fuente del Ángel Caído – standing tall amongst the roses of the Rosaleda Rose Garden – a work by Ricardo Bellver, the statue is the only known public monument of Satan depicting Lucifer falling from Heaven.
• Palacio de Cristal – the enchanting and magnificent glass pavilion, surrounded by an artificial pond, was built in 1887, designed by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco.
• Paseo de las Estatuas – the ‘Statue Walk’ decorated with the statues of kings from the Royal Palace sculpted between 1750 and 1753.
• Pay a tribute or say a prayer at the Bosque del Recuerdo in honour of those who lost their lives in the Madrid terrorist attack on the 11^th of March 2004.

4. Atocha Railway Station – apart from being the primary station serving intercity, regional and high speed trains, the interior of the station is the most serene ‘jungle in the city’ experience. I loved the contrast of the green leaves against the steel and the rays of sunshine falling through the glass roof made the station even more beautiful.

5. Plaza de España – located on the western end of Gran Via, the square is home to a large fountain and features a monument to Cervantes, a great figure of Spanish literature.

6. Palacio Real – the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family. The space however is only used for state ceremonies, as the royal family doesn’t actually live there. 11€ entrance fee and waiting in the very long line was definitely worth it. The palace is stunning and boasts 3418 rooms (not all of which can be visited), each room perfectly maintained and decorated with tapestries and works of art from notable painters are sculptors over the years.

Also check out:

• Plaza de la Armería – located at the south façade of the Royal Palace. If you’re lucky, the change of the Royal Guard takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at midday in the square!
• Plaza de Oriente – designed in 1844, the square is rectangular in shape and is located on the east side of the Royal Palace. Fun fact: the equestrian statue is a memorial to Philip IV of Spain designed by Pietro Tacca with scientific advice from Galileo Galilei (note how the horse is only supported on its back 2 legs instead of the usual 3).
• Campo del Moro Gardens – the gardens are open from 10:00 to 20:00 during summer months and close earlier during winter. The gardens are accessible from only one entrance/exit and the stunning centerpiece Fuente de las Conchas (Fountain of the Shells) make for the perfect long walk.
• Sabatini Gardens – found on the north side of the Royal Palace. These gardens feature a large rectangular pond surrounded by 4 fountains and statues of Spanish kings, which were originally intended to crown the Royal Palace.

7. Almudena Cathedral – opposite the Palacio Real is the Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena. The church is open all week with longer visiting hours in the summer. The Almudena dome, which is over 70 meters in height, can be visited from the museum, total cost 6€. Definitely worth the visit for the view.

8. Plaza Mayor – the square’s foundations were laid when Philip II’s court moved to Madrid on the former Plaza del Arrabal where the town’s most popular market was located at the end of the 15^th century. The square’s appearance has changed over the years due to various fires but the most devastating one in 1970 led to its reconstruction. Plaza Mayor is surrounded by 3 story residential buildings, 237 balconies face it and the square has nine entranceways.

9. Mercado de San Miguel – a few minutes away from Plaza Mayor, a unique gastronomical experience awaits! A perfect chance to get a refreshing aperitif while immersing yourself in local culture, Mercado de San Miguel is one of the oldest, most popular and with its stunning iron and glass architecture, the most alluring market in Madrid. Colourful stalls sell fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, local wines, beers and hot tapas, something for everyone.
   

   

   

   

   
10. Temple of Debod – the shrine was originally constructed in Egypt, by order of the Meroe King Adijalamani who built the chapel dedicated to the god Amun and the Goddess Isis. Due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam in 1960, UNESCO wanted to save the structure and the Egyptian government gave the temple as a gift to the city of Madrid in 1968. It was transported and rebuilt from scratch and was then opened to the public in 1972. The view at sunset and the evening lights made the structure look even more alluring.

Tips!

• An easy dinner on the first night led us to Tapa Tapa (right under our hotel!). 10 different tapas, 1 liter of sangria and 25€ per person later, it was the best meal after such a long day!

http://www.tapataparestaurant.cat/entreAmigos/verPromo/id/75

• Not a myth, paella is good almost everywhere! Whether it’s mixed, chicken only or seafood only, paella is economical and delicious!

• I could drink sangria all day everyday and that is basically what we did. Many aperitif bars and also the restaurants have cold and yummy sangria at super affordable prices – red or white, it’s the best refresher especially in summer.
• Try La Bola Taberna, famous not only for its quality products but also for its best specialty “cocido madrileno”, cooked the original way using oak charcoal at a very low rate and individual clay pots.

https://en.labola.es/restaurant/

• Subway ticket prices depend on destination of various zones in Madrid. Be sure you punch in the end destination when buying tickets especially the combined single and airport tickets. A single ticket costs 1,50€. Hold on to your tickets you will need them to exit as well!
• Walk as much as possible, sites are quite easy and close enough to get to by foot. Plus, the inside streets are gorgeous and filled with rich architecture.
• Shops normally close between 14:00 and 17:00 for ‘Siesta time’, but are open late, sometimes past 21:00 so plan your shopping hours!
• Every one eats late. Especially in the summer – restaurants are open until past midnight and rush hour is anytime between 22:00 and 23:30.
• Jamon Iberico – so even though I cannot personally eat it, the boyfriend said it was super delicious and a must have!